The challenge of walking with the God who knows me.

Fear of the Lord

We all look somewhere for blessing, protection or help -people, organisations, wealth, ourselves, … This attitude helps us identify our gods.

Many do whatever it takes to stay within this protection and help. This is an attitude of fear. We may not cower, but we modify our behaviour to maintain protection.

O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord– he is their help and shield. You who fear him, trust in the Lord– he is their help and shield. [Psalm 115:10-11NIV]

The one true help and shield is the Lord. To stay protected requires a certain degree of fear. Without the fear of the Lord we give in to our wilful desires or we look elsewhere for protection. Similarly, for blessing,

The Lord remembers us and will bless us: … he will bless those who fear the Lord– small and great alike. [Psalm 115:12-13NIV]

Wherever we look for blessing, we modify behaviour and attitudes to remain blessed. So, we honour the source of blessing. The Lord is the one who truly blesses, but we are tempted by many others.

he does whatever pleases him. [Psalm 115:3NIV]

Many hesitate to go wholeheartedly with God because he does whatever he pleases, not what we please. Yet God is love, so when we adapt to him we begin to truly love. By contrast those who fear other things become like them as they modify their behaviour to maintain protection or blessing, making those things their gods. What do you want to become like? Whom do you fear?